HISTORY ETHNOGRAPHY NATURE WINE-MAKING SITE MAP
Selected and rare materials, excerpts and observations from ancient, medieval and contemporary authors, travelers and researchers about Cyprus.
 
 
 
 
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SIR SAMUEL WHITE BAKER
CYPRUS AS I SAW IT IN 1879
page 354

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great distance, and from the commanding elevation a depredator could be distinctly identified with a good telescope. The Cypriotes are easily governed, and should a few severe examples be made public when the destroyers had been taken in the act, an exceed ingly small staff of foresters would be sufficient to insure order and protection. The pine and cypress are the trees most generally attacked, and, as I have already shown, there is no difficulty whatever in their preservation should the requisite staff of officials be appointed. It should, however, be borne in mind that the preservation of woods and forests is a simple matter compared ι with the absolute necessity of their extension ; it is therefore desirable to examine the capabilities of the island for tree-culture. When Cyprus was first occupied by British troops the English newspapers were full of superficial advice suggested by numerous well-meaning corre, spondents who were utterly devoid of practical ' experience in tree-planting, and a unanimous verdict was given in favour of the Eucalyptus gloòulus, and other varieties of the same tree, irrespective of all , knowledge of localities and soils. The absence of money would be the only excuse for any delay in experimental tree-culture. The seeds . of the eucalyptus were sent out in considerable quan, tities to the various chief commissioners of districts I for cultivation, as though these overworked and • ill-paid officers were omniscient, and added the prac. tical knowledge of horticulture to their military ' qualifications. Every commissioner that I saw had a few old wine or beer cases filled with earth, in which he was endeavouring to produce embryo ζ

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